Cycling in the Cotswolds. Chiz Dakin

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      Stiff cycling shoes are useful, but adding SPD plates to ‘clip in’ is best left until you’re sure it’s worth the money and the time getting used to them

      It’s worthwhile wearing cycle shoes. They may look like normal trainers or leisure shoes, but they have stiffened soles that prevent foot pain and long-term problems associated with the concentrated pressure of cycling.

      As your cycling progresses and you tackle longer and harder routes, clip-in pedals may become worthwhile. These positively lock your feet to the pedals, requiring a heel-twist to unlock. Besides keeping feet secure on rough ground, they allow you to pull up on the pedals as well as pushing down.

      Most cycle shoes feature attachment points for the shoe cleats, which are supplied with the pedals, so clip-in pedals can be added later. However, the ‘locked-in’ feeling can be unnerving if you are not used to it, so only make this progression when you are confident.

What to take

      Which type of bike?

      All the routes in this book could be done on road bikes, in which case you will need to follow the on-road detours marked on the maps and highlighted in the sidebar beside some route descriptions. But you’ll have more fun, and be able to explore quieter trails and tracks, if you’re prepared to take a mountain bike or a hybrid (or ‘sturdy’) bike, which will manage the off-road sections fine in dry conditions. In wet conditions, the best bike to take, if you wish to tackle the off-road sections, will be a mountain bike.

      Other basic equipment

      Reputable cycle hire centres will usually provide you with a lock, pump and helmet free of charge. Most will also provide a small repair kit (enough to change an inner tube), but you may well have to ask for this. A lock is a good idea if you plan to leave your cycle unattended.

      Although many hire centres will encourage you to wear a helmet, there is no requirement under UK law to wear one and it is entirely up to individual cyclists to decide for themselves. Parents should bear in mind younger children’s vulnerability and instability; protective gear comes in all shapes and colours these days and will not necessarily seem ‘uncool’ or off-putting to young people.

      Toolkit

      Appendix D contains detailed information about the tools you might need on a cycle trip – including a step-by-step puncture repair guide.

      Water bottles

      These (one or two, depending on route length) can be held in frame-mounted bottle cages.

      Luggage

      Although it is possible to carry day kit in a small rucksack, it is much more pleasant and comfortable to carry things in a handlebar bag, rear rack bag or (for larger loads) panniers. Handlebar bags with a clear top pocket to carry a map can be particularly useful. If you use electronic rather than paper maps you may prefer the type that securely holds a small tablet. Smartphone apps (such as Strava or MapMyRide) for cycling are becoming increasingly common; they provide electronic mapping and a log (along with stats) of your route, and they may well become the norm in the future. But beware: satellite GPS eats batteries. Many cyclists also complain of poor visibility in bright light, and smartphones are expensive to replace if damaged by rain, mud or falls.

      All luggage should be properly and securely fitted using appropriate brackets, with panniers also requiring a rear rack. Beware of wheels becoming snagged by loose straps or floppy panniers.

Maps

      The size of this book constrains the scale of mapping that can be used within it; as such, it is advisable to take with you some form of larger-scale mapping, such as Ordnance Survey (OS) 1:50K Landranger or 1:25K Explorer sheets. (Downloaded electronic versions are good, but beware of relying on online-only versions such as Open Street Map or Google Maps, as these require a strong mobile signal, lots of battery power, a clear view of the sky and phone-based satellite GPS.)

      Relevant local sheets seem to be becoming less commonly available in local village stores and petrol stations, and are perhaps best bought in advance of a visit.

Waymarking and access

      Gates